2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible

A hefty price tag of more than 100 grand is competitive with other high-performance convertibles on offer like the Jaguar F-Type, BMW 8-Series M850i Convertible, and the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster. Heavily bounced interior accents and packages along with that typical Porsche presence is one of the favorites with high prospects including a special edition as well named 4S Heritage Design Edition.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4S is one of the flagship models in the Porsche production with an inspiring array of Porsche-specific tech-ends and other add ons. Right from the texture of Olea Club Leather Seat Trim to Leather Upholstered Dashboard, the leatherette smell is all around the cabin. Some of the many are those 20-/21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels and 20" Front/21" Rear Carrera Exclusive Design wheels that have got outflows to compliment the overall silhouette. Then comes the handling section that is fulfilled by the Ride Control Adaptive Suspension which is self-sufficient to maintain the undesirable deficits. 

With a top speed of more than 180 mph, the Power Spoiler and 8-Speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) Transmission are among those mechanical extensions that are no less than necessities. For being on the premium and luxury side, it generally comes with some extras such as the all-heated seats with high cushioning. The list goes on to mention Real-Time Traffic Display and Navigation Unit as well. In the end, it is the safety geometry of Porsche Stability Management, Collision Mitigation, and many more that brings in the wholesomeness that this engineering beholds.

Which Trim should you buy?

As we have a special edition on top of an already ravishing trim but prioritizing effective expenditure is advisable which compels us to go for the base 4S itself. Long hauling comfort and safety assurance along with a mind-boggling pace at pedals, the 4S variant will suffice whatever an owner wishes for from its convertible. Musical entertainment and display interactiveness are also apt to justify the overall stature. Thus, it has to be 4S instead of spending extra dollars on the Heritage version.

The new Porsche 911 Targa 4S comes with a 3L Twin Turbo H-6 unit that is capable of producing the power of 443 hp @ 6500 rpm and a torque of 390 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm. This powertrain is coupled with an 8-Speed Auto-Shift Manual Transmission in an AWD layout. The transmission step-up ratio is finely tuned and has easy shifting making overtaking a piece of cake on the highways. Moreover, this twin-turbo reduces the turbo lag because of which this convertible has a sudden power surge. This unit does manage to accelerate from the 0-60 mph mark in nearly 3.4 seconds and finishes its quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. On top of that, the speedometer also ticks up to 188 mph when floored to the bottom.

Despite being the lowest in terms of figures, the Porsche 911 Targa 4S achieves on-road performance, thanks to its better lower to mid rev band. It is only behind the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster which can do the 0-60 mph in 3 seconds and a quarter-mile in parallel 11.3 seconds. The BMW 8-Series M850i Convertible, on the other hand, is underwhelming in its curve translation because of its underappreciated power-to-weight ratio while the Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Convertible rates fairly well with comparable acceleration and a top speed of 185 MPH.

How well does the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible handle?

Power spoiler for channeling drag to increase downforce and Ride Control Adaptive Suspension for adjusting wheel alignments are two of the striking assets that are acquired by the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible. The anti-roll bars both in the rear and front reduce the rollover risk. Even the understeer and oversteer are countered by the AWD layout with map-controlled multi-plate clutch Porsche Traction Management. 

What’s even more impressive is the steering column of Electromechanical power steering with variable steering ratio and steering pulse generator because of which the high-speed effort is literally a cherry cake slicing. The driver-selectable mode, Sport being one of them, has also been integrated into it with Electromechanical power brakes to limit it. Therefore, the handling can be vouched for the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible.

2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible Braking Performance

The Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible comes with 6-piston, aluminum fixed monobloc brake calipers at the front in pairing with 13.8” vented disc rotors and 4-piston, aluminum fixed monobloc brake calipers at the rear with the same 13.8” cross-drilled ones. The 4-wheel ABS, Electromechanical power brake, and Electrically operated parking brake further expand the braking realm with dignity and class. A high brake pedal ratio has also been calculated to stagnate this power crunching convertible with a short span of time but the figure for the same is not available to reinforce the claim. 

Since the Porsche 911 Targa 4S has the smallest brake rotors among all its rivals, at least whose data are available, yet it is not expected to have shady braking travel for the fact that it has been given the privilege of too many electronics and high caliper surface areas. The other models are one of the primes in their own brands, so despite having no number, it can be speculated that they all will have the same stance altogether.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible is symbolic of status and pure showcasing rather than economical and utilitarian machinery for comfy city rides which is why the association of its genuinity with fuel mileage is similar to the other typical high-performance convertibles. The 18 mpg in the cities, 23 mpg on the highways, and 20 mpg overall by the 4S are the best one can have along with a 17.6-gallon fuel tank which allows her/him to push more than 400 miles to the best of its abilities.

As per figures, it turns out that the twin turbos of the H-6 of Porsche gulps too much fuel but it is still relatively less than what other engine configurations consume per gallon. The Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is undoubtedly the least frugal option averaging 17 MG, while the Jaguar remains only a notch above it. However, it is that range reach of nearly 430-445 miles that put the competitors on the hot seat while the Porsche struggles. To any sane potential owner, this segment is simply not a virtue to be judged or compared for the performance-economy trade-offs are generic.

Refinement with those Sports seats with electric backrest angle and seat height adjustment in the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible is the most primitive ones in the list of mutation where they can either be upgraded to electrical 14-ways with memory package or Adaptive Sports seats Plus having electrical 18-ways with memory package including iconic leatherette accents such as the Bordeaux Red, Slate Grey, and Graphite Blue. The 2-zone automatic climate control with separate temperature settings and active carbon filter has also been incorporated inside the cabin. Apart from that, one can even enhance the ambient lighting with the Light design package in seven different coloring options. Hence, it is safe to conclude that opulence has been restored in style.

Except for the seating capacity and cargo volume, there is nothing to comment on but such power-packed convertibles are generally subtle and closely organized like an atom. Every inch is dedicated to a specific purpose. Among all, the BMW 8-Series M850i Convertible has the highest cargo volume and decent spacing in both rows. And keeping those numbers as a reference, the others will be somewhere around such a comfort zone only with parallel cabin insulation also. So this segment, itself, by its stature is a double-edged sword. 

Some of the features are:

• Sports seats with electric backrest angle and seat height adjustment
• 2-zone automatic climate control
• Bordeaux Red, Slate Grey, and Graphite Blue accents
• Active carbon filter
• Optional Adaptive Sports seats Plus
• Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The instrument cluster with central rev counter and two 7-inch TFT displays, 10.9-inch Center Display begins the commentary for the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible much appreciated interior infotainment section. The tale of this portion is analogous to a lengthy novel as the Porsche Communication Management in pairing with the Online Navigation and Apple CarPlay along with DAB, DAB+ and DMB audio formats for uninterrupted digital radio broadcasts are way beyond one’s expectations. Moreover, the Sound Package Plus goes on to add a 150-watt 8-speaker audio unit with an integral amplifier and digital signal processing. Life becomes a blessing in disguise with other assets like the free subscription period of 36 months of Porsche Connect and Porsche Vehicle Tracking System. 

Some of the features are:

• Porsche Vehicle Tracking System
• Porsche Connect
• 150-watt 8-speaker audio unit
• Apple CarPlay
• 10.9-inch Center Display
• Online Navigation
• DAB, DAB+, and DMB audio formats

If one is concerned if the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible has got something special to be what it takes to be a generation role model then certainly the attitude will be in the flow of the upstream only. The metallic colors of Guards Red, Racing Yellow, and special editions of Night Blue Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, and Aventurine Green Metallic are a few of the contrasts to attract both old-school and new-school. The power spoiler and wheel setups of 20-/21-inch Carrera S, 20-/21-inch RS Spyder Design, and many more are enough to convey that sporty stance to your vision. Though the Matrix Beam Headlights might not be an aggressive synonym but the optional Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus pushes it to a whole new world of elegance and functionality. 

Apart from the wheelbase of the Porsche 911 Targa 4S, all the rivals are well within the same cuboidal box of measurement. That smaller wheelbase, though, does tell of high cornering stability and lower ground clearance will restrict the “Lift” phenomena under the platform at high speeds. Even a lighter chassis altogether improves mass transfer dynamics of the 4S and forward dive will be driven out of the scope. The rivals, on the other hand, are also content in this section, thanks to their overly loaded tech assists with which they inherently come up with. 

Some of the features are:

• 20-/21-inch Carrera S & 20-/21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels
• Power Convertible
• Power spoiler
• Green-tinted thermally insulated glass
• Matrix Beam Headlights
• Galvanized Steel/Aluminum Panels

The Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible packs a hell of a lot of features irrespective of their passivity or activeness, they all work in sync with one another. The Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Stability Management come right at top of all the others that have to be at their peak all-time 24x7. Then the spotlight is taken by the Collision Mitigation, Automatic headlight activation, and Brake Assist that is equally important for making it a complete convertible. The continuous speeding at 188 mph, as per theory, will be generally prone to overheating of the engine and seizing but not here as it comes equipped with water-cooled thermal management that has just got this thing to counter. So, the Porsche 911 Targa 4S Convertible is surely a class apart machinery with all that you need. 

Some of the features are:

• Porsche Stability Management
• Porsche Active Suspension Management
• Water-cooled thermal management
• Brake Assist
• Collision Mitigation
• Automatic headlight activation

2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S vs 2021 Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Convertible

Relatively cheaper yet the Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Convertible manages to match the standards of the Porsche 911 Targa 4S in performance dynamics. But the same is not true in the case of seating capacity as the Porsche can accommodate 4 in a go. This deficit is compensated by better range practicality. However, both of them are at par with one another in their handling pursuit. As far as choosing one between the two is concerned, the Jaguar has more weightage here. 

2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S vs 2021 BMW 8-Series M850i Convertible

The accent and tech-ends for the convertibles are desirable and flawless. The interior ambiance and engagement are also cherishable. But it is that performance dynamics and overall compactness where the Porsche might just outshine the BMW 8-Series M850i Convertible. With a lower wheelbase and lighter frame, the handling of the Porsche around a corner will be a bit easier if all those tech assists are scraped off from both the convertibles. Therefore, it has to be the Targa 4S for its confident ride.

2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S vs 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster

The Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster is a phenomenon in acceleration and high-speed maneuvering. Better range reading and decent spaciousness inside the cabin are also added bonuses in it. A purist in all senses, the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster signifies what this segment is all about with a competitive price tag as that of the Porsche 911 Targa 4S. But one can’t keep Porsche out of the equation as it only lags behind the former by the slightest of a gap. Therefore, both of them can be chosen as per one’s inclination.

It is evident that the 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S is a complete package with everything blank filled with passion and meticulousness but the rivals give it a tough time to establish the same list of features at a lower price tag. Even the additional packages for appeal enhancement are also satisfactory with rivals. So one can give others a glance too before making it his/her final deal.